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BETTING ANALYSIS |
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Italian Serie A
Sat Mar 5
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ATALANTA
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AC MILAN
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AVAILABLE FREE BETS: ATALANTA v AC MILAN |
| MATCH
ANALYSIS |
AC Milan's main concern ahead of their clash with
bottom-side Atalanta is the snow.
Milan boss Carlo Ancelotti knows the white stuff
that has continued to fall the past few days in
northern Italy will have an effect on the Atleti
Azzurri d'Italia stadium pitch in Bergamo.
The air is so cold and there has been so much snow
that it is still uncertain if the game will go ahead
as planned.
If officials decide to play, Milan know that their
passing game will not be as slick as it normally is.
"We have to be very careful at Atalanta," admitted
AC Milan defender Alessandro Nesta. The pitch will
be frozen and this will be a risk, that is why we
have to play at our best level and remain
concentrated."
A victory will see the Rossoneri, who are currently
level on 57 points with Juve at the top of the
standings, take the Serie A lead with 10 games left
to play.
But whether or not they can fly solo will depend on
the result from the clash in Rome three hours later.
Scudetto contenders Juve are unlikely to suffer from
the cold conditions in what will be a heated game at
the Stadio Olimpico against enemies Roma - although
the Romans' former coach Fabio Capello, who is now
in charge of the Turin outfit, will receive a frosty
reception from the home fans.
Once their game is over, Milan players will be glued
to the television hoping to receive a favour from
the Giallorossi.
"So many weeks appeared to be ideal to extend the
advantage but that hasn't been the case," admitted
Nesta.
"Last weekend was considered to be perfect for Juve
to extend their lead and yet we were able to beat
Internazionale in a important encounter. The game in
Rome will be a difficult one for Juve, but they can
win and before that we must win. Regardless of
whether we surpass Juve or not, it's too early to
claim the final victory. Milan and Juventus are two
very solid teams and I think it's going to be a long
duel that will go down to the wire."
For starters, Milan will have to travel to the
Olimpico in two weeks, and the two teams have yet to
face each other.
"The road is still long with 11 games left to play,"
said Nesta. However, this is an important month,
when an error could be fatal and we are know this."
They are not the only ones, with rivals Atalanta
fully aware that a mistake could be costly for their
survival hopes.
They may be considered favourites to be the first
team to be relegated this season having only taken
18 points in 26 games but Delio Rossi's men are not
giving up just yet.
Their 2-0 triumph against Bologna, their third
victory of the campaign, has lifted the players'
morale.
But with a safe position eight points away, Atalanta
can only hope for a miracle in order to protect
their Serie A status.
Rossi will be without key defender Luigi Sala and
midfielder Nicola Mingazzini due to one-match bans.
That opens the door for Daniele Capelli and Riccardo
Montolivo to play. Ancelotti has Dutch defender Jaap
Stam available, which is good news as Brazilian Cafu
is suspended. The Rossoneri will be without injured
Andriy Shevchenko and Manuel Rui Costa.
On paper this should be an easy win for Milan,
however in the past weeks Atalanta seem to have
re-born and the Bergamaschi have collected precious
relegation points which up till a month or so ago
were thought impossible. Now that the home team is
back in with a small chance of avoiding relegation
the Rossoneri will need to be at the top of their
game if they intend on avoiding any slips. I cannot
bet any other than an away win today however!
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| MATCH
OUTCOME |
Milan survived a scare at bottom of the table Atalanta as
Andrea Pirlo grabbed a winner with the last kick of the
game.
The Rossoneri were without the suspended Marcos Cafu, while
Andriy Shevchenko, Kakha Kaladze and Manuel Rui Costa were
injured. Jaap Stam returned from a thigh problem to take the
right-back role. There were massive changes in midfield with
stars rested ahead of the Manchester United tie and they
returned to the two-striker system.
This may be a top to toe encounter as far as the table is
concerned, but Atalanta have really improved of late and
held Cagliari to a thrilling 3-3 draw last Sunday.
Hernan Crespo failed to get on the end of a corner kick and
Andrea Pirlo's free kick was charged down, but it was
Atalanta who had the first real scoring opportunity after 11
minutes. Antonino Bernardini's free kick reached Capelli for
a glancing header that turned the ball past Dida and on to
the base of the far upright.
Carlo Ancelotti was playing with two central defenders in
full-back roles and that inevitably saw the standard of
crosses into the box dip during this game. With this in
mind, 36-year-old Paolo Maldini pushed up to a left-back
position and began to cause a few problems.
Milan still had a great chance to take the lead on 21
minutes, as goalkeeper Alex Calderoni was surprised by the
bounce Kaka's pass and just pushed the ball away from
Maldini around the six-yard box, then Crespo couldn't turn
his marker to aim at an empty net.
Crespo and Kaka were finding it tough to control the ball on
the frozen Bergamo pitch and wasted a golden opportunity on
the counter-attack soon after.
Stephen Makinwa dribbled round Alessandro Nesta at the
byline and an unlucky bounce sent his pass away from his
Atalanta teammates. Soon after, Dida rushed off his line to
punch a dangerous Motta cross off Bellini's head.
On the stroke of half-time, Crespo's effort was deflected
into the path of Stam, who ballooned a woeful effort over
from a promising position.
Dida was again tested after the restart with a fine save on
Makinwa's dangerous turn and strike from the edge of the
box. Kaka was then disposessed in midfield and Bernardini
drilled just wide from distance.
There was controversy on the hour mark when Makinwa was
clearly dragged back by his shirt as he prepared to shoot
from just outside the penalty area, but the referee and
linesman somehow failed to notice Nesta's tugging offence.
It was at least a booking as Costacurta was nearby, probably
a red card for last man. The referee went to the Atalanta
Coach and explained that Makinwa had committed a foul first,
but he didn't award a free kick to the Rossoneri either, so
this explanation is somewhat confusing.
Serginho introduced some much-needed pace to the Milan side
by replacing Vikash Dhorasoo, while Massimo Ambrosini took
over from Christian Brocchi.
Maldini was very lively and his powerful strike was cleared
just in front of Calderoni by Natali's defensive header.
The Atalanta goalkeeper then took a step backwards to
capture a floating Pirlo free kick and nearly went over the
line, but was able to contain it.
Calderoni scrambled to Tomasson's feet after he had battled
past both Capelli and Bellini to run into the area.
The deadlock was eventually broken on 72 minutes. An Andrea
Pirlo free kick from the right found a totally unmarked
Massimo Ambrosini for a strong twisting header into the near
corner of the net.
It didn't last long, however, as just 60 seconds later
Atalanta drew level in similar circumstances. Another free
kick, this time by Bernardini from a central position, found
Makinwa in the middle of several Milan shirts and his
equally impressive header went into the bottom corner.
Maldini had another long-range strike that was deflected
inches wide of the near post, while Pippo Inzaghi returned
to the playing field for the first time since October 17
following surgery on his ankle and then his right hand. It
was an emotional occasion for him because Inzaghi was also a
top scorer with the Atalanta jersey at the start of his
career.
Atalanta horribly wasted a fantastic chance to win it soon
after, as Makinwa sprinted past Nesta and rolled the ball
across for the unmarked Andrea Lazzari, who fired straight
at Dida when it might have been easier to score.
Ambrosini chested down a cross and fired wide of the near
post, then Makinwa again used his extraordinary pace only to
aim a weak shot at Dida.
Makinwa was booked for trying to punch Lazzari's cross into
the net at the back post after some great build-up play from
Bernardini.
Inzaghi pounced on a loose ball and would have been one on
one with the goalkeeper, but Rivalta dived in with a crucial
tackle.
In the final minute of normal time, Tomasson had his best
chance of the game by turning his marker and Calderoni
rushed out to smother the shot with his chest.
Makinwa was stretchered off in stoppages with cramp, but as
has happened so often this season, Milan left it until the
last kick of the game to grab the winning goal. Inzaghi's
header from a corner kick was parried into the path of
Pirlo, who slammed home the winner from close range to
ensure they stay top.
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